ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), after a detailed discussion with all the stakeholders on Wednesday, decided that all the remaining educational institutes, particularly primary and middle schools, as well as universities, shall resume classes from February 1.
The forum decided that students in Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, and Peshawar would attend classes with 50 percent strength on alternate days.
The session was chaired by NCOC Chairman Asad Umar, which was also attended by Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood, National Coordinator NCOC Lieutenant General Hamooduz Zaman Khan and the provincial health minister of Sindh and chief secretaries of all the federating units joined the meeting through video link.
The forum has decided to reopen the education sector with strict recommendations of staggered classes for three days a week in the urban centres, in light of the higher coronavirus positivity ratio reported there.
However, universities would resume operations as per the usual schedule.
The forum was informed that globally, the disease trend had witnessed a hike after the complete reopening of the education sector, therefore, the approach to cut down the attendance on a given day would help in reducing the resurgence of the contagion.
It was also informed that vaccination centres have been established all across the country, wherein staff trainings and other arrangements have been completed to kick-start coronavirus inoculation.
The national body dealing with Covid-19 also outlined Pakistan’s coronavirus vaccination strategy consisting of eight-step process starting with registration and vaccinations, once the authorities ensure the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine in the country.
Asad Umar, who is also Federal Minister for Planning and Development, said the strategy had been developed after consultation with all the provinces and the relevant stakeholders.
He added that Pakistan had finalised the Covid-19 plan as per international health guidelines.
“The purpose of the strategy is to vaccinate people in a healthy environment and in accordance with the health guidelines through a concrete plan.” The forum said that an online portal, National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) had been created which would be operated by the NCOC.
Human interaction within the portal would be minimised to keep the system transparent, it added.
In addition to the NIMS countrywide, various Adult Vaccine Centres (AVC) are established across the country which will be run by the National Vaccination and Administration Control Cell (NVACC).
Coordination cells have also been established at provincial and district levels, the NCOC statement said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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